'The Missing Link'; Integrating Somatic Approaches into Clinical Practice
Description:
OPD Points: 10
Within psychology and talk therapy, the body and even emotion, has tended to be sidelined with a focus on the thinking mind, in line with current cultural values. However, this can result in the shoring up of old, previously necessary, but ultimately limiting, avoidance mechanisms, so that authentic change does not occur, when used exclusively.
It can also lead to ‘stuckness’ in therapy and burn out in professionals who experience the limits of the traditional paradigm, when faced with clients who may have addressed a symptom, and come to ‘understand’ why they feel and behave the ways they do, but still can’t seem to change how they feel, and find themselves in repeating patterns of behaviour and familiar challenges in relationship.
Developments within the field of trauma therapy and research have begun to place, front and centre, the body, including our nervous system and our emotions, both as a container of trauma, and as a means to heal and re-connect with our ‘true selves’, our truth, our values and our uniqueness.
Through the integration of somatic approaches in psychological therapy, and learning to listen to the language of the body, deeper and more profound healing and growth can occur within our clients and ourselves.
Key Learning Objectives / Outcomes:
Through this course you will;
·     Be ready to weave somatic tools and principles into your usual clinical practice.
·     Have methods to access the unconscious processes that keep our clients stuck, and to facilitate quickly moving through barriers.
·     Know the science of somatic work; the functioning of our nervous systems, the impact of trauma, and how somatic approaches can address this directly.
·     Be able to use the traditional approaches of top-down processing (mind to body) as well as bottom-up processing (body to mind), so that your practice is holistic and complete.
·     Be freed up to support your clients in a way that gives them agency and self-responsibility.
·     Learn ways of working with dissociation and overwhelm in the therapy room.
·   Have tools to support yourself in your own life and to manage the impact of your work on your own body and mind.
Presenter / Provider:
Kirstie Missenden
Presenter Qualifications:
DClinPsych
Kirstie is a Clinical Psychologist, Somatic Therapist, Trainer and Mentor, with over 28 years of experience in working with adult clients in a wide range of settings and with a variety of issues. She is passionate about somatic work, which revitalised her own practice and has supported her clients (and herself!) in making deep, lasting changes and creating new, compassionate relationships with themselves and others.
Her current practice and trainings are informed by her experience with a wide-range of modalities, including Cognitive Analytic Therapy, EMDR, iRest, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, ACT, Systemic Therapy, IFS, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) and other MindBody approaches. She draws on skills developed over 28 years, as well as her own personal healing experiences and professional practice to create these trainings and support other practitioners.
Start / End Date
September 19, 2025
September 21, 2025
Times:
Start:
9:00 am
End:
5:00 pm
Course Duration:
20 day(s)
Course Hours:
20 hours
Registration Instructions:
Please see website for registration options and to book online.
Cost:
$1,100
Address:
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